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The newest version of the premium Fenix adventure timepiece brings a life-saving feature: phone-free messaging and emergency alerts using 4G LTE or orbital connections.

This Fenix 8 Pro enhances the already outstanding Fenix 8 by incorporating new mobile tech, along with an optional state-of-the-art microLED screen in a special edition. This is the brand's premier device and engineered to be the single tool needed to explore almost any location and monitor all your movements.

This makes it an extremely expensive proposition, starting at £1,030 (€1,200, $1,200, A$2,300) for the 47mm OLED version and reaching a colossal £1,730 (€2,000/$2,000/A$3,399) for the 51mm variant with microLED screen – almost double the price of the standard Fenix 8.

Users receive a lot of features for your investment, with industry-leading workout, movement and outdoor tracking. Its full offline mapping of the globe can automatically guide you back to the trail if you lose your way without a phone, and appear great on the large, crisp and super-bright display.

This Fenix 8 Pro is only available in 47mm or 51mm case dimensions, omitting the smaller 43mm version found in other devices, so it is a big watch for bigger wrists. However the 47mm OLED model as tested boasts an extra day of watch battery life despite the screen always active, enduring a solid eight to nine days between charges.

No-Phone Texting, Calling and Real-Time Location

The company uses its proprietary inReach LTE (4G) and satellite service plan rather than depending on a watch plan tied to your mobile provider, as with other wearables. But unlike competing satellite-capable products, emergency messaging is not provided for free.

Rather, plans begin from £7.99 or similar a month, which includes limitless LTE text and audio messages, calls and LiveTrack location sharing – so your contacts or family can keep an eye on you while engaged in jogging, cycling or comparable pursuits – along with SOS satellite SOS alerts.

Location updates and texts via orbital are then billed additionally, with more expensive subscriptions offering various allowances of satellite use, increasing to a £50 a month unlimited subscription. The watch comes with a 30-day trial period so you can test out the functionality.

Once you have completed setup, you simply head out outside minus your phone and the watch will connect to LTE. You can not use it for streaming music or similar tasks, but you can make and take calls, dispatch texts and overall keep in touch with your relatives and companions.

Whenever you text someone, Garmin sends them an SMS from a random number, which they can reply to directly to your watch. If they install the Garmin Messenger app, you can then communicate reciprocally using text or spoken messages, and initiate voice calls. Your contact is not required to have a Garmin profile to use the Messenger app, just a mobile number is sufficient to register for texts.

Messaging on the watch works adequately but composing texts on the small on-screen keyboard is time-consuming. It has a collection of personalizable canned responses you can send to speed things up. Spoken recordings and calls perform acceptably, though as with most smartwatches, you’re unlikely going to wish to use it for lengthy conversations as the quality is less than fantastic.

LiveTrack is the most useful function. You can configure to on its own transmit a link to chosen contacts whenever you start an exercise, so they can follow your live location on a map. It’s excellent for following race performance, but it primarily acts as a tool for someone you rely on to be aware of your whereabouts in case an incident occurs. It has typically functioned effectively, though the actual location has sometimes been delayed when transitioning in and out of strong LTE signal.

These capabilities are available on other Garmin devices if you bring your phone with you, but in locations where LTE lacks coverage, the orbital activates on the Fenix 8 Pro to transmit texts, position check-ins and emergency SOS.

A guide shows you how to find the clear view to the satellite, which then sends and receives messages within about 10 to 30 seconds. It was unexpectedly easy to use and could be a vital safety feature, however it is important to note that orbital coverage is limited to the US continent, the majority of Canada, and most of Europe excluding parts of Scandinavia north of 65 degrees latitude.

Sustainability

The watch is typically serviceable with services available through the customer service site. The battery is certified to retain at least 90% of its initial capacity after two years of weekly charging. The watch does not contain any recycled components. Garmin provides disposal programs on new purchases.

Cost

This Fenix 8 Pro costs from £1,029.99 (€1,199.99/$1,199.99/A$2,299). The additional Garmin inReach subscription packages cost from £7.99 (€9.99/$7.99/A$13.50).

Conclusion

This Fenix 8 Pro builds on a excellent adventure watch in the regular Fenix 8 and incorporates LTE for messaging, call functionality and LiveTrack – along with orbital messaging, location update and SOS SOS for when you’re out of coverage.

Outcome is an even more remarkable outdoor tool for those that want to be phone-free. If you want to have someone keep an eye on you remotely while running out at night or in the middle of nowhere, the Garmin accomplishes this without requiring anything else.

It is very freeing to be outside without a phone, but that capability comes at a significant cost, both in terms of the colossal cost of the watch and the monthly fee of the inReach plan to enable the service. Fortunately it is not dependent on your phone carrier so works with any make of smartphone and network.

This Fenix 8 Pro is a killer gadget for someone who dislikes being weighed down by their phone when jogging, biking or trekking, but still desires to be trackable and reachable. For everyone else, it is a significant money when the excellent Fenix 8 already exists.

Advantages: LTE and orbital messaging, super-bright OLED display, tracks everything with best-in-class GPS, built-in torch, phone and standalone commands, 8+ day endurance, Garmin Pay, complete offline maps and routes, offline Spotify, 100-metre waterproofing and 40-metre underwater use, physical controls and touch.

Drawbacks: extremely costly, LTE and orbital features require ongoing subscription, limited Garmin Pay bank compatibility, voice features are slow, limited smartwatch functionality versus Apple/Google/Samsung watches.